Karen had nodded, her long, straight hair brushing her shoulders. She had reached out to take her friend’s hand.
“Be careful. I need you to come back to us.” She wrapped her arms around the large woman.
Now Lulu was nearing her destination. As was her natural tendency whenever she was nervous, she uttered a hiccup, which she did now. Also, since the terrible day she witnessed her mother’s death, Lulu stuffed her mouth when she needed comfort. And she needed comfort now! She wished there was somewhere for her to stop and get a slice of pie. Then, right on cue as she rounded the next bend, Lulu saw a roadside cafe. She pulled into a parking slot in front and got out of the car.
“Be back in two shakes of a hambone,” she said lightly, as she cracked the window open for Spirit. The cat looked at her with a scowl and whined.
Lulu stepped into the restaurant and was immediately seated at a booth near the front window where she could watch the traffic and keep an eye on her car. There were a few customers scattered in other booths, but all in all, the space was quiet. Lulu squeezed herself between the dirty gray upholstery and the chipped Formica table. The window sill was dusty. But, she ignored that as soon as she smelled the delicious odors emanating from the kitchen. Suddenly she was starving.
Lulu yearned for a donut, or a hunk of rich gooey layer cake, or at the very least, a slice of lemon meringue pie.
A young waitress approached her table. “Hi, I’m Mimi. We’re out of the pot pie, meatloaf, and the special of the day,” she announced, flashing a radiant smile. “We have everything else on the menu.” She was chatty, breezy. And disgustingly thin.
“What’s your specialty of the day?”
Mimi leaned close to Lulu, her smile suddenly dimming.
“Rabbit stew, but I never recommend it. It just breaks my heart when I think of the poor little thing.” She pulled a pencil out from behind an ear and a note pad from her pocket.
Lulu nodded with understanding. “I’m just here for dessert, Mimi.”
“Oh, well, we have a large assortment of pies. All baked fresh this morning. Apple, Cherry, the works. And chocolate layer cake. With ice cream or whipped cream, no extra charge.” She stood there and waited, her smile having returned.
“I’ll have the apple pie and a slice of chocolate cake. Whipped cream, no ice cream. And black coffee.” Lulu told the girl.
“Coffee coming right up, and I’ll get the desserts roll’n.” She flashed one more wide grin, and all but danced back down the aisle of tables towards the kitchen.
Taking a deep breath, Lulu glanced around the restaurant and tried to relax. She’d feel better as soon as she got some sugar in her. A little pie was exactly what she needed to calm herself.
The desserts were the best Lulu had ever eaten, and she washed them down with lots of hot coffee.
Mimi returned with her bright smile and the check. “Where are you headed?”
“Going to Seaside,” Lulu responded, reaching inside her satchel for her wallet.
Once more, the bright grin disappeared. The young woman became serious as she leaned over towards Lulu.
“Really? I don’t know what you’ve heard, but strange things are happening in that town.”
Lulu hiccuped, and her eyes darted to a dusty silk plant behind the woman.
“I have to go.”
The waitress stared at her. “Be careful. I hope to see you again if you pass this way ... just to make sure you’re all right.”
Lulu paid the bill and headed out to her car. After stuffing herself back inside her Beetle, she sat there for a few minutes, fear pricking her soul.
What was she doing here? Why hadn’t she made an excuse to Bernard and remained in Cincinnati frosting donuts and rolling out French pastries? Why had she decided to take such a chance as coming out here? Curiosity? Well, ... curiosity killed the cat.
Lulu placed her key in the ignition and turned on the engine. It hummed happily. But before she pulled back out into traffic, she turned and looked at Spirit.
“Go pee, my chick-a-dee.”
The cat jumped into her litter box.
Moments later, they were on the road again. With a belly full of pie and chocolate layer cake, Lulu told herself she was ready to take on the world, or whatever awaited her in Seaside.
“Bring it on!” she cried out as Spirit settled herself once more on the seat. The cat was also ready ... for another nap.
Ten miles down the highway without warning, the lights on the dashboard began to flash a bright orange. Engine. Oil. Check. Something was very wrong. The car chugged and sputtered. It began to lose speed.
“Come on, Cherry-Bird, don’t conk out on me now!” What is she going to do? How is she going to get to Seaside?
The headlights flashed. The hazard lights glared. The radio screamed on and off. The windshield wipers swept back and forth. Everything was happening at once. Electrical difficulties, no doubt. Spirit yowled and sprang into the back seat, poking her head beneath a rumpled pink blanket.
“What’s going on?” She’d never had trouble with Cherry-Bird before. The poor car was going mad!
Lulu carefully steered it to the side of the road, where it stopped with a jolt.
She flipped open her cell phone. She needed help. Now.
“Damn Sam!” she exclaimed under her breath. The cell phone battery was dead. If this was a sign that she should turn around and drive back to Ohio, there’d be no argument from her. Lulu’s doubts as to whether she should’ve come were piling up.
Around her, there was nothing but trees. Surely, there’ll be another car coming into view any moment. Someone who can help her. Someone who can call the police — who is the police. Where was Bernard? He’d summoned her here. Wouldn’t he know she was in trouble?
Lulu heard Spirit whimper.
“Don’t be such a scaredy cat,” she said, once again getting out of the car. Maybe she could flag someone down — if someone decided to drive by. Feeling alone and anxious, she was getting hungry again.
Lulu waited. The sun continued to burn brightly. Her body became damp with sweat. Climbing back into the driver’s seat, she tried once more to turn on the engine. Still dead. There was nothing for her to do but wait for help to come.
Hours passed. The world had grown still. No sound. No breeze. Even Spirit was motionless. She’d fallen asleep again.
Above, the sun broiled. The air was suffocating. Vulnerable in the midst of the green timberland, Lulu realized there’d been no other cars seen along the highway since Cherry-Bird stalled. Soon it would be dusk and cooler. The night creatures would come out from their hideouts among the trees. She had no protection. Not even a cinnamon roll. That would curl her toes.
All at once, the earth began to shake. Then Lulu heard a horrific roar. It sounded like it came from the center of the earth. Was this an earthquake? The roaring continued.
As Cherry-Bird rocked and rolled with violent force, Lulu hiccuped, as she held onto the dashboard. She had no idea how long all this lasted. It seemed like forever. Then it grew quiet. The earth grew motionless once more, though her heart still pounded.
A gentle gust brushed through Lulu’s gray hair. The orange streak, combed earlier across her brow, ruffled in the breeze. The air cooled down. A car sped by. Then another. Lulu tried the engine. Cherry-Bird purred as she came to life. Lulu put the car in gear, and Spirit jumped over the seat and settled next to her. In less than an hour, they’d be in Seaside, Bernard’s